Author: nina hovnanian

PRESENTATION OF A LEGACY OF ARMENIAN TREASURES TO FEATURE EDMOND AZADIAN

ARTS | AUGUST 6, 2013 4:01 PM
________________________________

BELMONT, Mass. – Edmond Y. Azadian will be the principal speaker at
the Boston-area launch of the book, A Legacy of Armenian Treasures:
The Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum, on Saturday, August 24, at 7:30
p.m. at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
(NAASR), 395 Concord Ave.

The event will be co-sponsored by the Armenian Mirror-Spectator
and NAASR.

The Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum in Southfield, Mich., is home to
a large and rich collection of Armenian art and artifacts, including
illuminated manuscripts, early printed books, rugs and carpets, sacred
vessels and vestments, textiles and embroidery, ceramics, metalwork,
paintings, coins, and objects from the ancient kingdom of Urartu.

The newly-published volume, A Legacy of Armenian Treasures, features
more than 160 of the museum’s most vital and beautiful pieces, each
reproduced in full color and accompanied by a detailed entry. The book
features a Foreword by Thomas F. Mathews of New York University and an
Introduction by Edmond Y. Azadian; Sylvie Merian of the Pierpont Morgan
Library served as the Editorial Coordinator and museum director Lucy
Ardash was the General Coordinator. Essays by nine renowned scholars
of Armenian art and artifacts shed light not only on the artistic
significance of these objects but also on their cultural context.

At this book launch event, Azadian will provide background information
in the development of the Manoogian Museum and the creation of A
Legacy of Armenian Treasures. Introductory remarks will be given by
Alin Gregorian, editor of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, and Marc
Mamigonian, director of Academic Affairs, NAASR.

A Legacy of Armenian Treasures will be available for one night only
at a special sale price of $60 including sales tax (regular price
$75.00 plus tax).

More information about this program may be had by e-mailing
[email protected], or writing to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.

– See more at:

JERUSALEM PATRIARCH VS. CATHOLICOS

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 

[patriarchcatholicos.jpg]

Jerusalem Patriarch Archbishop Nourhan Manougian (left) and His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians (right)

Jerusalem Patriarch Urges Catholicos Karekin II to Reinforce the
Church’s “Spiritual Foundations”, Rejects Attending Etchmiadzin Meeting

JERUSALEM-In an unprecedented and tersely-worded letter Jerusalem
Patriarch Archbishop Nourhan Manougian criticizes His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, urging him to reinforce the
Armenian Church’s “spiritual foundations,” which the Patriarch says
have been waning.

The letter comes as a protest of recent events in the France Diocese,
which prompted the resignation early last month of the popular
Primate of France Archbishop Norvan Zakarian, which has prompted
across-the-board and collective outrage from the French-Armenian
community.

In the letter Manougian tells the Catholicos that the protest was
prompted by the Supreme Spiritual Council’s decision to accept
Zakarian’s resignation, despite his years of service to the church,
adherence to the gospel and overall service to the community.

Zakarian resigned his post as French Primate, after alleging that
the Catholicos had demanded that he re-instate the parish priest of
the Armenian Church in Nice, Father Vatche Ghazanchyan, who was under
criminal investigation by the French authorities and was ordered to
serve a two-year suspended sentence for allegedly beating a man.

Ghazanchyan’s alleged business dealings in France have long been an
issue of concern for the French-Armenian community, especially the
community in Nice.

Zakarian said his resignation was prompted by an incident on June
29 at the VIP lounge of Charles De Gaul Airport in Paris, where the
Catholicos, in the presence of the Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian,
Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamian, Armenia’s Ambassador to France
Vigen Tchitetchian and other religious and secular leaders of France,
threatened the archbishop by saying: “If by July 1 you don’t reinstate
him [Father Vatche Ghazanchyan] to his position, then you have no
business with the Mother See.”

Zakarian’s resignation has prompted anger in the French Armenian
community, and statements of protest have been issued by a number
of organizations including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s
France Central Committee and the Coordinating Council of Armenian
Organizations in France-the ANC of France.

“I would like to say in brotherly terms, that a threat is not becoming
of a clergyman, especially a high-ranking one-the ‘Supreme Patriarch
of all Armenians,’ from whom it is expected, as the genuine FATHER
and forgiving SUPERIOR, to relate with love and forgiving spirit with
his children or with his subordinates,” said Arch. Marnougian in his
protest letter.

The Jerusalem Patriarch argued that Zakarian’s term was to have ended
in November and suggested that the Supreme Spiritual Council should
have waited until then to “accept” his resignation.

“Do you truly want to eradicate your reputation as the
‘Constructive Catholicos’ by extending the number of clerics you have
defrocked?” asked Arch. Manougian. “What has occurred was unacceptable
and a great injustice coming from Holy Etchmiadzin, from the Armenian
people’s Holiness of the Holy.”

“Your Holiness, if you recall, a few years back, when with great
pride – and justly so – you were showing me the beautiful buildings
You had erected within the campus of the Mother See? I said to You,
that equal to and more important than physical buildings is reinforcing
the spiritual foundation; and You reassured me that this would also
happen,” said Manougian.

“Nevertheless, the time has come to establish that it is the
superficial and the financial elements that are important and
interesting to You,” added the Patriarch.

Arch. Manougian went on to recall an incident when the Catholicos
was attempting to pressure the late Patriarch Torkom Manoogian to
appoint Archbishop Aris Shirvanian as his “successor.” When the late
Patriarch refused and Arch. Shirvanian informed the Catholicos that
such a provision did not exist in the by-laws of the Church and the
Patriarchate, the Catholicos Karekin II, according to the Patriarch,
said: “I will strip all of you of your ranks.”

Citing the current climate within the Armenian Church and the issues
he has set forth in the letter, Patriarch Manougian informed the
Catholicos that he would not attend a meeting of Diocesan clerics in
Etchmiadzin, scheduled to take place in September.

ARMENIAN-AMERICANS APPOINTED TO SERVE ON BURBANK CITY COMMISSIONS

August 6, 2013 – 11:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian National Committee of America-Burbank
announced that three Armenian-Americans were appointed to serve on
three Commissions in the City of Burbank: Armond Aghakhanian, on the
Park, Recreation and Community Services Board; Garen Yegparian, on the
Sustainable Burbank Commission; and Vahe Hovanessian was re-appointed
on the Burbank Unified School District Facilities Oversight Committee,
where he was just re-elected as chair. Armond Aghakhanian was also
appointed to the Burbank Unified School District Facilities Oversight
Committee, Asbarez reports.

“It is great to see Armenian-Americans continuing their active role
in Burbank’s civic and political life,” stated Zareh Khachatourian
of ANCA-Burbank. “We are grateful that so many individuals from
our community are willing to contribute their time and expertise to
our City. This active engagement by Armenian-Americans will further
strengthen Burbank’s diverse community and shine a light on the many
opportunities available for citizens to become more active members
of this great city.”

US, AZERI DEFENSE CHIEFS MEET

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

Azeri Defence Minister Safar Abiyev (L) and Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev

WASHINGTON-U.S.-Azeri strategic relations were discussed Tuesday as
Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev visited the United States.

Minister Abiyev, speaking at a meeting with US Secretary of Defense
Chuck Hagel in Washington, complained that Armenia has remained in
control of Nagorno Karabakh for 20 years.

“However, unfortunately, international organizations and leading
countries have not yet declared Armenia as an invading country,”
he said.

Abiyev also cited his country’s discontent with the existence of
Section 907, arguing that it runs counter to the U.S. foreign policy.

Section 907 to the Freedom Support Act, which was passed by the U.S.

Congress in 1992, bans direct aid to the Azerbaijani government. In
October of 2001, the Senate granted the U.S. President the powers to
waive Section 907. That waiver has been used every year since 2002.

Abiyev added that if the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not resolved and
the Azerbaijani territories are not freed, the region will continue
to face a difficult military situation.

Secretary Hagel said he will make further efforts for the development
and strengthening of strategic cooperation between the two countries.

The ministers discussed military cooperation.

He thanked Abiyev for his country’s support of the international
efforts in Afghanistan, where Azeri forces take part in fighting
against the same mujahideen forces that twenty years ago aided them
in the Karabakh war.

Hagel spoke positively about the development of cooperation under
a number of programs in the field of defense between the U.S. and
Azerbaijan.

Abiyev said that Azerbaijan will continue to contribute to the
operations in Afghanistan after 2014, noting that this willingness
was supported by NATO.

Abiyev noted the work done by Azerbaijan in the context of
Euro-Atlantic security and said that energy, transport, communications
and other regional projects undertaken in this area have turned into
an important factor in the development of strategic cooperation.

After the meeting, Hagel asked the minister to convey his greetings
to the President of Azerbaijan. Abiyev, in turn, invited his US
counterpart to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, and Hagel accepted
the invitation.

The Azerbaijani Defense Minister, who is on a visit to Washington at
the invitation of American colleagues, laid a wreath at the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington cemetery prior to the talks at
the Pentagon.

GEORGIAN INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER PROMISES TO DISCOVER VARVARA RAFAELYANC’S DEATH CASE

19:20, 6 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS: Internal affairs minister of Georgia
Irakli Gharibashvili announced that the investigation of 10 months old
Varvara Rafaelyanc’s death case had to be implemented by the previous
authorities. “Armenpress” reports making a reference on Georgian
media that Internal affairs minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili
at the same time mentioned that despite previous Georgian authorities
the new government does not avoid from responsibility and obligations.

“I want to remind the previous authorities that we were appointed in
our offices in Ministry on October 25. In fact we began to work on
November 1. But before that was working the previous government.

During that period the case had to be discovered. But it does not
release me from obligations that the case must be investigated and
reached to its end,” said Gharibashvili. He once again highlighted that
they despite previous authorities do not avoid from responsibility.

On September 30, 2012 on the eve of parliamentary elections of Georgia
was found the body of 10 month old Varvara Rafaelyanc. The parents of
the child connected the case with political activity of their relative,
activist of “Georgian dream”.

256 SOUGHT ASYLUM IN 2013

During the past seven months 256 foreign citizens have sought asylum
in the Republic of Armenia.

The majority of asylum seekers, 235, are Armenian Syrians. 15 are
citizens of Iraq, 4 are citizens of Iran. Unlike the previous years,
there have been none from African in 2013.

The decision on granting asylum is made within 3 months from applying.

According to the State Migration Service, in January-July 2013 345
foreign citizens have been granted asylum, including 323 citizens of
Syria, 19 citizens of Iraq and 3 citizens of Iran.

In 2005-2012 2,098 foreigners sought asylum in Armenia. 1,088 were
granted asylum.

17:35 06/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

IRANIAN EXPERT CONSIDERS PROSPECTIVE ARMENIA-IRAN MILITARY COOPERATION

16:37, 6 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS: The cooperation of Armenia and the
Islamic Republic of Iran in the military field is prospective.

This opinion was stated by the Iranian expert Edik Yaralyan at the
press conference, touching upon the Armenian-Iranian relations and
their further development.

“Studying the development dynamics between these two countries, we
see that during the recent period it has become more intensive in
the fields of goods exchange, agriculture and other spheres.

Moreover, in the nearest future, particularly in September, the visit
of the Iranian highly ranking officials to Yerevan is expected, during
which serious agreements will be signed between Teheran and Yerevan”,
– said Edik Yaralyan.

The presidential elections in Iran took place on June 14 2013, in the
result of which the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran was
appointed Hassan Rouhani. The President of the Republic of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan attended the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected
Iranian President on August 4.

Earlier Armenpress reported that within the framework of the
working visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Serzh Sargsyan had a
meeting with the newly elected President of Iran Hassan Rouhani. In
the beginning of the meeting the President of Iran expressed his
gratitude to President Serzh Sargsyan for accepting the invitation
and attending the inauguration ceremony. Serzh Sargsyan congratulated
Hassan Rouhani on the occasion of election and wished him prolific
activity and success in that sublime and responsible position.

At the course of the meeting the Presidents of the two countries
discussed a wide scope of issues regarding both the bilateral and
multilateral relations. The Presidents underscored that the agenda of
the Armenian-Iranian cooperation is very rich. Also, the Presidents
Serzh Sargsyan and Hassan Rouhani expressed gratification with the high
level of mutually profitable cooperation based upon the traditional
age-old friendship of the Armenian and Iranian peoples. In addition
both Presidents laid a heavy emphasis on the necessity of raising
the cooperation to a higher level.

Among other things the interlocutors touched upon the regional issues
as well and the current state of the negotiations process regarding
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in particular.

AROUND 20 PAID PARKING LOTS WILL APPEAR IN YEREVAN

August 06, 2013 | 14:28

YEREVAN. – Around 20 paid parking lots will be created in Yerevan,
director of Parking City Service company Vazgen Harutyunyan.

Five thousand surveillance cameras will be installed to control the
paid parking spots, he said during the Tuesday press conference.

The parking locations will first appear in the center of the capital,
and the investments will total $10 million by 2014, he added.

Harutyunyan noted that no one will have preferences for the parking
spots.

Parking City Service is an operator of the parking lot network after
it won the tender invited by Yerevan Municipality.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

CITY PARKING SERVICE TO INVEST $10 MILLION INTO ORGANIZATION OF PAID PARKING ON YEREVAN STREETS

YEREVAN, August 6. / ARKA /. City Parking Service (CPS), a company
that will deal with organization of paid parking in the Armenian
capital’s streets, will invest $10 million into a relevant project,
its director Vazgen Harutyunyan said today.

In concert with Locator company the City Parking Service won a contest
announced by the Yerevan municipality.

“The program will be fully implemented by the end of 2014. By that
time, we will create parking space , equipped with fixed and mobile
cameras for 20 thousand cars,” Harutyunyan said at a meeting with
journalists. According to him, the parking space for the first 10
thousand cars will be set up in the coming six months, and the rest –
by the end of next year.

He said the companies will install 2000 surveillance cameras to be
connected to the fiber-optic network for collection, transmission
and storage of data. Overall, there will be 5 thousand cameras.

Harutyunyan also said that there will be a mobile surveillance system,
consisting of vehicles equipped with video cameras able to fix the
car license plate and pass it to the database in a digital format,
as well as determine the cars whose drivers have not paid fines.

Harutyunyan added also that the companies will not paid for damages
caused to cars by force majeure incidents. However, the car owner
will be entitled to request a copy of what surveillance cameras record.

According to him, paid parking service will be extended from the
downtown Yerevan to all its administrative districts. Payments will
be made only through terminals, banks, as well as text messages.

The first five minutes of parking will be free. The cost of one hour
parking is 100 drams (about 25 US cents), that of one day is 500
drams (about $ 1.2), the cost of a weekly parking is 1000 drams ($
2.4), of r a month is 2000 drams ($ 5). The cost of annual parking
is 12,000 drams (about $ 30). Some vehicles, such as ambulances,
will not pay for parking. -0-

– See more at:

POLICE BUST CHILD SALE RING IN VANADZOR

13:17, August 6, 2013

A joint Yerevan and Lori Police task force yesterday arrested several
people in the Armenian town of Vanadzor suspected of involvement in
the sale of a 4 year-old child.

Police claim that the child was being sold for U.S 15,000.